Chapter 1221 Falling Behind

An attempt to break into Amos Tower's office while he was away at Hogwarts was no small matter.

Professor Dumbledore was soon summoned.

He was wearing snow-white pajamas and a purple robe with gold inlays. He leaned over, one hand holding his half-moon-framed glasses, and the fingers of the other hand gently poked the cold door handle.

"I agree with you, Minerva, Severus -"

After a careful observation, Professor Dumbledore straightened up and said calmly,

"Someone tried to open Amosta's office. Fortunately, he failed to break through the protective magic on the door."

"But who would do that, Albus?"

Professor McGonagall took a step forward, holding her chest in worry.

"What did that guy want to do by opening Amosta's office?"

"I'm afraid we can only draw a conclusion after investigation."

The firelight dyed the half-moon lenses on Dumbledore's thin nose golden. Harry couldn't see the twinkling light in the blue eyes behind the lenses. He could only hear the serious tone in Professor Dumbledore's voice.
"Perhaps, he wants to get something valuable from Amosta's office."

This is a very reasonable guess, but it also has a hint of irrationality.

As we all know, Professor Braine is the most plain-looking of the Hogwarts faculty members. If you look through Filch's office, you might find a few valuable things, but Professor Braine's office is filled with all kinds of documents.

"I suggest a thorough investigation of this matter, Dumbledore. Perhaps a truth serum could be used on certain suspicious individuals."

Snape looked at Harry and spoke in a light voice.

"Thank you for your advice, Severus. It is indeed necessary to search the castle--"

Dumbledore didn't seem to understand Severus's hint. He just said,
"Amosta will certainly wish to know who wishes to open his office. Perhaps you could write him a letter and let him know."

Without waiting for Professor Snape to respond, Professor Dumbledore turned his clear face to Professor McGonagall.

"Minerva, I want you to wake up the faculty and staff. We need to search the castle to prevent that suspicious person from lurking in the castle. In addition, I want you to call Argus, who is most familiar with the secret passages in the castle."

Professor Dumbledore glanced at Harry and the others standing aside seemingly unintentionally.

"If that person broke in from outside the school, then, apart from those secret passages, there is probably no other way."

Professor McGonagall nodded, looked at Harry and the others, and ordered in an unquestionable tone,

"Go back to your own beds. I hope you will keep what happened tonight a secret for the time being to avoid causing panic."

Elune was not going in the same direction as them, so Snape took her back to her own dormitory, while Professor McGonagall 'escorted' Harry and the other two to the spiral staircase and watched them go upstairs.

"Hermione, do you think--"

The three of them hurried upstairs, and after making sure that Professor McGonagall couldn't hear them, Harry immediately called out anxiously.

"I know what you're going to say, Harry, but -"

Hermione had obviously guessed what Harry was thinking. Her pure brown eyes were now immersed in a fierce light.
"It's indeed suspicious, but... it doesn't make sense, does it?"

"What's wrong?"

Harry frowned and asked,
"Malfoy wants to buy an alchemical item from Borgin that can break powerful magical defenses. I have never understood what he wants to do.
Now it's clear, isn't it? He wanted to open Professor Brain's office. Voldemort must have ordered him to do so. He wanted to steal something from Professor Brain's office!"

"Are you doubting Malfoy, Harry?"

Ron said in surprise, as if there was no clue at all.

"That's not what you told us, Harry—"

Hermione glanced at Harry and said,

"You said earlier that Malfoy went to Borgin and Burke's because he was ordered by Voldemort to open the door that appeared in your dream."

Harry's breath caught in his throat and he stopped talking.

This was indeed something he couldn't figure out, and it was also the reason why he remained silent and said nothing.

All along, he had stubbornly believed that Malfoy was ordered to open the door behind the unknown corridor in his dream, but it turned out that Professor Blaine's office was invaded first.

They have all been to Professor Blaine's office many times. It is just a simple classroom, but there is no mysterious black corridor. "Anyway, Malfoy is a suspect. If we can go into his dormitory now to check, he is injured, isn't he?"

Harry said stubbornly.

Hermione stopped in front of the Fat Lady's portrait, pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, then her eyes stabilized.

"You can't provide reliable evidence, Harry, and I don't think Professor Snape will speak for you. In fact, I think it's a bit too coincidental that he appeared there tonight."

"Are you doubting Snape?"

Ron jumped up in surprise, waking up the Fat Lady who was enjoying her sweet dream.

"I just, just."

Hermione frowned.
"Think he showed up there, Harry,"

Hermione turned to look at Harry with a slightly hesitant look.
"According to the information we have now, Malfoy is indeed a suspect, but the key is that we need evidence. Perhaps you can try to write to Sirius and ask him to investigate Borgin and Burke's. Perhaps he can find some clues."

"Oh, what a good idea!"

Harry excitedly clenched his right fist and hit his left palm.
"Boggin is a businessman like Flume, so he must have an account book. I can ask Sirius to take a look and see if Borgin has sold anything to Malfoy!"

The three of them passed through the doorway behind the Fat Lady and entered the common room.

There was no one in the lounge for a long time. The room was enveloped in a hazy red light from a few pieces of charcoal that were about to burn out in the fireplace. Harry rushed towards the dormitory excitedly, but when he stepped onto the stairs, he found that Ron did not follow him, but stood there with a hesitant look on his face.

Hermione didn't leave either. She glanced at Ron, as if she had already seen that he had something to say.

"what happened?"

Harry paused, puzzled.

"You better go back first, Harry——"

Ron's eyes dodged.

"I need to talk to Hermione about something."

Harry blinked, and for a moment, many thoughts flashed through his mind, but in the end, he just nodded and started walking again.

Several people in the dormitory fell asleep. Dean and Seamus covered their heads with the quilt to resist Neville's snoring.

Harry quickly walked to the desk, pulled out a stool, lit a candle, pulled out the parchment, and picked up the quill given by the goblin.

"Dear Sirius"

Harry Styles' sharp handwriting fell on the paper, and he stopped after just one sentence.
What did Ron want to talk to Hermione about?

Harry was lost in thought as he looked out the window at the surging darkness.

If it was before the Triwizard Tournament, he might have been able to guess some clues, but after that... specifically, after last year's Christmas ball, that possibility no longer existed.

Not to mention, Ron and Lavender are now in a hot relationship, and they are as loving as Cedric and Cho Chang.

Qiu Zhang
Thinking of the girl's gentle face, Harry felt dazed.

Since when did Harry no longer feel the heart-wrenching pain and unwillingness when thinking of this girl, although there is still a trace of attachment and regret in his heart.

In the darkness, Harry turned his head to look at Ron's bed, and the face of another girl appeared in his mind.

She was not as gentle as Qiu Zhang, like a pool of spring water, but she was more beautiful and charming, with vigorous vitality, smart eyes, beautiful hair and delicate skin. What attracted him even more was the charming faint floral fragrance he smelled every time he approached her.

The expensive quill was dropped, and the brand new parchment was stained by ink and was ruined.

Thinking of that girl, even exposing Malfoy's secret and protecting Hogwarts seemed less attractive.

Harry leaned back in his chair, feeling a lingering sense of dejection.

Ron had been his best friend since the day he entered Hogwarts, and he was Ron's best friend.

Harry knew that, although their friendship was strong, Ron had always dreamed of surpassing him in something. Now, he had accomplished something, but he could not catch up because of Ron. (End of this chapter)